Variable length isometric exerciser



Sept 7, 1965 c. E. QUIRE ETAL 3,204,955

VARIABLE LENGTH IsoMETRIC EXERCISER Filed June 4, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 s R W.. m R m m. J o AVT, n .a A mw w. UN v.. l @A g L S um A Q k w Mw CA L m Sept. 7, 1965 c. E. QUIRE ET AI. 3,204,955

VARIABLE LENGTH ISOMETRIC EXERCISER Filed June 4, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToRs CHARLES E QUIRE 24 LAWRENCE J.ANDR|0T, JR.

BY Wg. SMM

ATTORNEY United States Patent() 3,204,955 VARIABLE LENGTH ISOMETRIC EXERCISER Charles E. Quire and Lawrence J. Andriot, Jr., Louisville, Ky., assiguors to Puritan Cordage Mills, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Filed June 4, 1963, Ser. No. 285,416 3 Claims. (Cl. 272-79) This invention relates to an exercising device for aiding in the discipline and development of muscles by isometric contraction practices, and more particularly to a device which may be readily shortened or lengthened in order to carry out a plurality of such exercises with a single device.

The theory of isometric contraction involves the forcing of one or more muscles against an immovable object for a sustained period of time, which may be in the order of two to ten seconds, for any simple exercise. During this period the grip of the user upon the device should not tend to slip or twist and the construction of the exercising device should be such as to insure a firm and comfortable grip regardless of the particular exercise being conducted. Usually a pattern of exercises, designed to strengthen muscles in various parts of the body, is followed, with each exercise being done only once during the exercising session which, for example, may have a duration of about ten minutes each day. The particular sequence of these several exercises during a session may be varied, but in any event, several adjustments in length of the exercising device will be required and which should be capable of being carried out in a simple and expeditious manner. It is a purpose of our invention, therefore, to make available an exercising device which will satisfy these requirements.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved exercising device of the cord and handle type for use in isometric contraction exercising of muscles.

Another object is to provide an improved exercising ,device which is adjustable to a variety of lengths commensurate with particular exercises being conducted.

A further object is to provide an improved exercising device constructed to avoid twisting in the hands during the conducting of a variety of exercises with a single device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will become more apparent as the description proceeds and when considered in conjuction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device showing the handles spaced apart at their maximum distance.

FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic View illustrating one form of exercise conducted with the handles spaced apart as shown in FIG. l.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device showing the handles spaced apart in preparation for forming a single looping of the cord.

FIG. 2A is a plan view showing the single loop of the cord about the handles in a non-twisting arrangement of the parts.

FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form of exercise conducted with the handles and cord arranged as shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device showing the handles spaced apart in preparation for forming a double looping of the cord.

FIG. 3A is a plan view showing the double loop of the cord about the handles in a non-twisting arrangement of the parts.

FIG. 3B is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form of exercise conducted with the handles and cord arranged as shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a handle as taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 1 and to a larger scale.

FIG. 5 is a similar sectional view taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 1, and

Patented Sept. 7, 1965 ICC FIG. 6 is a similar sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. l, 4, 5 and 6, We provide a pair of identical handles 10 and 11 which conveniently may be formed of a strong molded plastic material such as polyethylene and which are movable with respect to an endless, flexible, non-extensible cord 12 which likewise, may be formed of polyethylene. In one satisfactory form, a total cord length of nine feet, with a diameter of about one-fourth inch and having a tensile strength of one thousand pounds, has been commercially used. As seen in FIG. 6, each handle contains on its rearward face an elongated cord-anchoring recess having generally parallel sides 13, 14 between which the cord is adapted to be pulled outwardly as when the handles are brought closer to each other. This recess communicates at its ends with the respective generally cylindrical recesses 15 and 16 having a diameter substantially larger than the width of the elongated recess and providing a relatively large opening toward the rear of the handle as shown in FIG. 5.

The peripheral edge of these cylindrical recesses at the exposed rearward side of the handle has a sufficiently large diameter to permit ready bending of the cord toward either side of that handle when the cord is later to be looped around the other handle. Axially of these cylindrical recesses is a pair of smaller diameter holes 17, 18 receiving the cord and extending through the relatively massive sections 19, 20 at the ends of the handle, the walls of these holes joining the walls of the cylindrical recesses with a conical wall portion 21, 22, respectively, as an aid to structural strength and to reduction of wear upon the cord. In addition, the side portions 23, 24 of the handle bounding the elongated recess are of comparatively massive sections, thus to give adequate reinforcing of the handles when pressure is applied during the conduct of an exercise. The confronting faces of the two handles 'are suitably formed with nger indentations 25 and the rear faces of the handles have a surface 26 which preferably is slightly arcuate, but which provides an adequate anchor for the cord when looped thereabout, as later to be described.

As a result of the described construction, fraying of the cord during use is reduced and easy manipulation of the cord is assured when looping of the same is to be employed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 1A, the device may be employed, as for strengthening the calf muscles, with its handles at maximum distance apart and by placing a foot upon one handle and by holding the other handle with the hands. In conducting this exercise, the user rises on the toes, inhales deeply, then while exhaling, begins a gradual strengthening force downward with the leg which is on the handle, and holds the maximum effort for about four seconds. It will be understood, of course, that the exercises herein described are by way of illustration and not of limitation and that many other exercises can be conducted with the device in addition to those chosen for such illustrations.

Considering now FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B, the device may be employed, as for strengthening the shoulder muscles, as follows: First, the handle 11 is moved to about mid-position of cord 12 to form the manipulatable portions 30, 31 and 32. The portion 31 then is looped against the rearwall 26 of handle 10 and, as a significant feature, the cord portion 30 is bent around one side of the handle 11 while the cord portion 32 is bent around the opposite side of handle 11. This is facilitated by the fact that the diameters of the cylindrical recesses 15 and 16 are much larger than the diameters of the holes 17 and 18, and as Will be apparent, when pressure is applied during the exercise the handle 11 will not tend to twist as would be the case if cord portions 30 and 32 were extended along the same 9 a side of that handle. When thus arranged as seen in FIG. 2A, the device is employed as in the exercise of FIG. 2B, by placing the same behind the back with the palms in toward the body, with the arms straight, inhaling deeply, then while exhaling the air, beginning a gradual strengthening force out and away from the thighs and holding7 the maximum effort for about four seconds.

Passing now to FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B, the device may be employed as for strengthening the forearm and wrist as follows. First, both handles 10 and 1I are moved to positions about one-third and two-thirds respectively, of the length of cord 12 to form the manipulatable end portions 40, 41 and 42 and 43, 44, 45, respectively, outboard of those handles. The portion 41 is then looped against the rear wall of handle 11 and the portion 44 is looped against the rear wall of handle 10, thus providing a double looped effect. Also, portions 40 and 42 are bent around different sides of handle 10 and portions 43 and 45 are bent around different side of handle 11. When thus arranged as seen in FIG. 3A, the device may be employed, as in the exercise of FIG. 3B by holding the same in front of the chest, keeping the cord as close to the chest as possible and holding the handles with the palms toward the chest. The user then inhales deeply, then while exhaling, begins a gradual strengthening force outward with the arms only, and holding a maximum effort for about four seconds.

Having thus described our invention and having illustrated certain typical usages of the same, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. It, therefore, is intended to cover such modications and changes within the following claims and to consider the invention as being limited only by the scope of those claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising device comprising an endless, non-extensible, exible cord and a pair of handles slidably atlxed to said cord, each of said handles having on its rearward side an elongated anchoring recess for retaining therein 40 said cord against pull exerted thereon from the other handle, a pair of spaced holes in the forward side of each handle confronting the other handle and through which holes said cord is trained, said holes communicating with the respective recesses adjacent the ends of said recesses, and said recesses being open on the rearward sides of said handles whereby said cord may be extended therethrough for the purpose of shortening the distance between said handles and for adapting said device for a different form of exercise.

2. An exercising device comprising an endless, nonextensible, ilexible cord and a pair of handles slidably affixed to said cord, each of said handles having on its rearward side au elongated anchoring recess having generally parallel side walls, said recess communicating at its ends with generally `cylindrical recesses having a diameter greater than the distance between said side walls, a pair of holes axially aligned with said cylindrical recesses and extending through the forward side of each handle and through which holes said cord is trained, the diameter of said holes being less than the diameter of said cylindrical recesses, said elongated recess and said cylindrical recesses being open on the rearward side of the handle whereby said cord may be extended therethrough for the purpose of shortening the distance between said handles and for adapting said device for a different form of exercise, the peripheral edge of said cylindrical recesses at the rearward side of the handle having a suciently large diameter to permit ready bending of said cord toward either side of the handle in order to pass the cord in looped form into engagement, with the rearward side of the other handle and without establishing twisting forces upon said handles.

3. An exercising device as defined in claim 2 including a conical wall section joining each of said holes with the respective cylindrical recess walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 134,527 1/ 73 Eastman 272-79 632,114 10/ 99 Hendrickson 272-68 685,788 11/01 McFadden 272-82 699,401 5/02 Lott 272-79 2,181,979 12/39 Schaeffer 272-75 3,068,003 12/62 Portman et al 272-79 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN EXERCISING DEVICE COMPRISING AN ENDLESS, NON-EXTENSIBLE, FLEXIBLE CORD AND PAIR OF HANDLES SLIDABLY AFFIXED TO SAID CORD, EACH OF SAID HANDLES HAVING ON ITS REARWARD SIDE AN ELONGATED ANCHORING RECESS FOR RETAINING THEREIN SAID CORD AGAINST PULL EXERTED THEREON FROM THE OTHER HANDLE, A PAIR OF SPACED HOLES IN THE FORWARD SIDE OF EACH HANDLE CONFRONTING THE OTHER HANDLE AND THROUGH WHICH HOLES SAID CORD IS TRAINED, SAID HOLES COMMUNICATING WITH THE RESPECTIVE RECESSES ADJACENT THE ENDS OF SAID RECESSES, AND SAID RECESSES BEING OPEN ON THE REARWARD SIDES OF SAID HANDLES WHEREBY SAID CORD MAY BE EXTENDED THERETHROUGH FOR THE PURPOSE FOR SHORTENING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID HANDLES AND FOR ADAPTING SAID DEVICE FOR A DIFFERENT FORM OF EXERCISE. 